Still here!!

Despite not posting since February 19th, we're still here. Having been chastised by our friend Jim from 'the Cities' on numerable occasions during the last week I have decided to bring you up to date but where to begin?? I think starting from today and working back .....

Today, Friday March 18th we are one of the host hotels for Chubfest and you can check that out on http://www.chubsrule.com/ we have a full house and it is a very busy month for us. March usually is. Apart from Jim from Minneapolis, we have Don  from Toronto back again for 33 days and international guests from Edinburgh and London but most of our guests this weekend are from California, (San Diego, Vallejo, Long Beach, Simi Valley) but also from Illinoise and Colorado. Promises to be a lovely weekend weather wise.

Not very nice weather!!!!!!

It has turned miserably wet  for Presidents Day Weekend. It rained all night (boo hoo) which is particularly annoying as I washed down the deck yesterday.  As our guests started to arrive, the temperatures dropped and the clouds rolled in over the mountain. Never mind, here's a cheerful picture of one of our new cacti in bloom a few days ago just outside our front gate. Aaahhhhhh!!!

Once again, the majority of guests are return visitors. We welcome back Sam and Justin , Rudy and Walter from Los Angeles, Jay from St Paul (see you in a few weeks, Jim!). Ron from Atlanta, 2 visitors from Canada and one from England. Not to mention Peoria, Arizona. Great to see you all. Thanks for coming back!!!!  Ooop, I nearly forgot to mention the two lovely boys from Santa Ana who stayed last weekend. Please come back! (no names, as requested!!!!).

Here's another picture, this time the aloe next to the steps going to rooms 7 and 8. We call it our Neptunes Trident plant for obvious reasons. In a few days they will have brilliant yellow flowers. Sorry, no pictures of naked men around the pool. Far too wet and cold. No doubt the steam room will be made use of this weekend!!!!! We''ll see how many can fit in at the same time!

Marc Langet

It was with great sorrow we heard the news that one of our regular visitors had died. Marc was born in France but lived in Belgium and was working for the EU in Brussels. A gentle giant all 6ft 5inches. He took some of the pictures for us on our website. He loved to travel,  loved Palm Springs but most of all, he loved us and staying at Chaps Inn.  We will miss him greatly. Lovely to see you, Gerard. Next time bring happier news!!!!!

Don't cry for us!!!!! (Agentina or anywhere!!).

LOL. I know the rest of the world is suffering with record rainfall, low temperatures, snow up the wazzu, winds, plague, pestilence, locusts and frogs falling from the sky but, here in sunny Southern California, to be precise, Palm Springs, we woke to a low at 7.00 this morning of exactly 32f, 0 centigrade on our thermometer. I rushed to grab the camera to take a picture of this momentous occasion. By the time I got back, the temp had risen by 1 1/2 degrees, so what was the point?! Just so you know, it was up in the mid 70's later and people were sunbathing NAKED around the pool!!! Rush and book your tickets NOW!!!!! This is the place to be.

It's been 2 weeks?

My, how time flies. Can it really be a fortnight since I last wrote???  I should've made a resolution at the New Year to 'write more often!'. I didn't!! Just a quickie, the weather here has been fantastic, mid 70's most days and a welcome change from all that rain. The mountains are looking green and the wildflowers are poking through. The season has started well despite a slow start. Looking forward to seeing some (if not all) of you this year.

The sun arrived!!!

Hello everybody!! It has been a while. Today, January 14th, we were able, for the first time since before Christmas, to wear shorts and t-shirts and/or go naked!!! Weather forecast for the weekend, mid to late 70's(f)

Stuart and I have spent the last couple of days clearing out 10 years of crap!!! We rented a skip (dumpster, in American) and severly under estimated the size we needed. We had a 3 cubic yard skip delivered and we filled it in a flash. We had to call the Palm Springs Disposal Service for another. This time we got an 18 footter!!! It fills up one entire parking spot from side to side and top to bottom. Pictures to follow! You can't imagine the stuff that can accumulate but really this isn't the first time we have had a good clear out. All the old vertical blinds from the rooms needed to go and you can't imagine how many dried up pots of paint we had. I admit, there was some stuff that we brought with us 10 years ago which should have been dumped then but you know how that is!!! It continues tomorrow with Lowe's having one of their electronic drives ... TV's, computers, hair dryers you name it they'll take it for re-cycling. They  also shred paperwork in a huge shredder so goodbye to years of accumulated paper. All for free!!

The question has already been asked .... are you planning on selling? Well, I can see why anyone would think that. Landscaping the parking lot to give some 'kerb appeal' and now not one but two skips in the parking lot!!!!! No, not for sale. Sorry neighbours, we're staying!!!! Maybe we watch too much HGTV!! By the way, The View is for sale, previously the Indianola. $1,300,000 if anyone is interested.

The year has started very well. Long may it continue. Tonight we are 60% full. All new guests except one room. Hank arrives from Guernville tomorrow for an annual visit so welcome back!!!!! That will make us 70% full. I am so glad we have 10 rooms it makes the %'s so easy!!!

Oh Oh,   You all heard Chief Domiquez has resigned due to the Warm Sands Sting??? Well, retired to spend time with his family as he puts it. Good riddance to bad rubbish. No tears for him, he'll be alright. But what about the 19 men arrested in 2009 still waiting their fate?  Note to new District Prosecutor .. drop all charges.
That's all!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Hello everybody and a very happy New Year!! We celebrated in fine style at 4pm last night which was 12 midnight in England. I think that might become a tradition. At least we were in bed by 10pm as usual!!!! Ken and Mark dropped by, as did Mike and John, Jim and Gino, Tony and as many guests who wanted to have a glass of champagne!!! Stuart made his lovely filo pizza, I baked a brie (thanks to Peggi for the idea!). Home made hommus, filo tartlets filled with salmon mousse and lashings of champagne!!!! Talking of lashings, unfortunately Dennis a AJ couldn't be here due to work commitments. The cake is a traditional English ChristmasCake. Stuart made two, one for 2010 and another for 2011 which will be fed regularly with alcohol throughout the year. For all those who think they don't like fruit cake, this would make you a fan!!!!!